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Nature


Plants and flowers. More - trees, fruits, animals etc. - to be added soon!



5 subcategories
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ALL OTHER PLANTS

Animals

ANIMALS

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FLOWERS

Fruit & Vegetables

FRUIT & VEGETABLES

Trees

TREES

6,644 photos
Ivory cosmetic box in the shape of a fish, Canaanite, from Tell es-Sa'idiyeh, Jordan, 13th century BC. This ivory fish-shaped cosmetic box was found inside a bronze bowl which had been strapped, using Egyptian linen, to the genitals of a body found in a grave at Tell es-Sa'idiyeh. Most unusually, the body had been placed face down in the grave, and over the back of the skull were found the skeletons of three fishes. The site of Tell es-Sa'idiyeh controlled a shallow ford across the river Jordan. In the 13th century it was under Egyptian control. This was the final phase of Egypt's domination of the Levant. Most of the graves at Sa'idiyeh consist of simple, sub-rectangular pits, but the items found in them either show strong Egyptian influence or are purely Egyptian. ANE, 1987-7-27,138
#03030210

Ivory cosmetic box in the shape of a fish, Canaanite, from Tell es-Sa'idiyeh, Jo...

Stone bowl from Khafajeh, Iraq, Early Dynastic period, c2600-c2400 BC. The carving on this vessel is particularly fine. The design is probably linked to Iranian mythology. A man in a net skirt kneels on two humped-backed bulls, or zebus, standing back to back, and grasps streams watering vegetation and a palm tree; above are two undulating lines, a crescent moon and a rosette sun. A similar figure with a rosette grasps two snakes and stands between two felines lying back to back. A lion and eagle attack a bull with a small animal below. The zebus are not native to Mesopotamia, and their presence here indicates a connection with the civilization which was developing at this time along the Indus Valley in Pakistan and north-west India. This vessel was found in Mesopotamia on a major trade route though the mountains on to the Iranian plateau. ANE, 128887
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Stone bowl from Khafajeh, Iraq, Early Dynastic period, c2600-c2400 BC. The carvi...

Footed basin, decorated with leaves and lotus flowers, Ottoman, c1545-c1550. This large basin may have been used for washing the feet of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. An inventory of the Ottoman treasury in 1505 makes mention of 'foot basins': this may either mean that they were indeed used for washing feet, or that the basins were mounted upon a circular foot, as here.The basin is an example of the 'Damascus' style of Iznik pottery. The outside of the broad bowl is painted in a lively pattern of large cobalt blue and turquoise lotus-flowers, enclosed by slender blue stems and long feathery green leaves. A smaller version of the same design appears around the foot, bordered by narrow bands of cable pattern. Inside the basin is a radial arrangement of medallions containing cloud scrolls, each medallion surrounded by tall stalks of bluebells. OA, G 1983.67
#03030215

Footed basin, decorated with leaves and lotus flowers, Ottoman, c1545-c1550. Thi...

Blue goat Approximately 8th century BCE; Tell Ahmar Element of a decorative fieze; on coating of clay; colours posed on a whitewash (chalk milk): ochre red, carbon black, Egyptian blue H.: 51,60cm; W.:63,50cm AO 23010
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Blue goat Approximately 8th century BCE; Tell Ahmar Element of a decorative fi...

Wallpainting depicting a scene of a hunt for wild donkeys 194 CE; Salhiyé (ancient Dura Europos), Syria Painting on plaster; H.: 0,97m; W.: 2,11m AO 17310
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Wallpainting depicting a scene of a hunt for wild donkeys 194 CE; Salhiyé (anci...

Centaur and fish 244-245 CE; ceiling of the large hall of the synagogue, Salhiyé (ancient Dura Europos), Syria Terracotta; H.: 45cm; W.: 36cm AO 18199
#03030222

Centaur and fish 244-245 CE; ceiling of the large hall of the synagogue, Salhiy...

Leaving for the hunt with dogs and cages. Stone bas-relief (7th BCE) from the palace of Ashurbanipal in Niniveh, Mesopotamia (Iraq).
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Leaving for the hunt with dogs and cages. Stone bas-relief (7th BCE) from the p...

Clay model of a sheep's liver (used by experts in divination). Old Babylonian, about 1900-1600 BCE Probably from Sippar, southern Iraq. Length: 14.6 cm Width: 14.6 cm ANE 92668 The Babylonians believed that the world was controlled by gods and that they could give indications of coming events. One of the most widespread means of prediction was the liver omen, in which a sheep was killed and its liver and lungs examined by a specialist priest, the baru. He would ask a particular question and the answer would be supplied by the interpretation of individual markings or overall shape of the liver and lungs. One could then take steps to avoid danger. On this model each box describes the implications of a blemish appearing at this position. Earlier model livers are known from the site of Mari on the Euphrates. We know from ancient texts that the baru was one of the most important scholars in Mesopotamia. He had to be the descendant of a free man and healthy in body and mind. The baru played an important part in decision making at all levels but particularly where the king was concerned. No military campaign, building work, appointment of an official, or matters of the king's health would be undertaken without consulting the baru.
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Clay model of a sheep's liver (used by experts in divination). Old Babylonian,...

Falcon-headed sphinx from the large temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Limestone; 1279-1217 BCE, New Kingdom (19th dynasty). See also 08-01-21/36
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Falcon-headed sphinx from the large temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Limestone...

Small Pyramid with relief of Sungod Re-Harakhte as falcon and evil demon Apep as serpent. Tales of Apep's battles against Re were elaborated during the New Kingdom. Limestone; New Kingdom (19th dynasty).
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Small Pyramid with relief of Sungod Re-Harakhte as falcon and evil demon Apep as...

Hunters or warriors on horseback. Harness plate, silver, gilded (400-350 BCE). From Letnica, Bulgaria.
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Hunters or warriors on horseback. Harness plate, silver, gilded (400-350 BCE)....

Votive stele of a Thracian horseman found near the village of Zlatna Panega, Lovech district, Bulgaria; 2nd-3rd century CE.
#03030269

Votive stele of a Thracian horseman found near the village of Zlatna Panega, Lov...